"Earth ahead, sir!" the helmsman reports.
The Seifukusu Magate Round Fleet sweeps out of hyperspace.
Two hundred ships-of-the-line, strong under normal circumstances,
today augmented by representation from all the Houses. It is the
first time in recent history that the unified forces of the
Dominion have banded together to confront an outside foe; fears of
the Dominion's power had always kept the lesser races on the
borders at bay. However, today, the Magate Round Fleet has not
come to invade...but to avenge.
Standing seemingly alone on the bridge of his flagship, Belok
Redet frowns on seeing the pitted surface of Earth's lone natural
satellite. Once, a millennia past, the Moon sparkled with many
cities, interconnected by the fragile lace of hovercar roadways
connecting the many citadels of the Moon Kingdom. In fact, every
planet in this star system was inhabited to one extent or another,
ten bright beacons forming the Silver Millennium, the only
intergalactic state that never held a grudge against the Dominion.
Since he was a child, the First Mage was taken away by the
stories of Serenity and her immortal court. How the Millennium's
last queen, in a bold manoeuvre with no guarantee for success,
dispatched the spirits of her beloved daughter and her personal
bodyguard, the Sailor Senshi, to Earth to one day arise as avenging
angels and finally smash the House With No Name into oblivion.
Finding the queen's broken body days later, after the renegade
House was forever banished into Metallia's dimension, the Dominion
accorded her slain friend and ally the highest honour: burial on
Dominos within her own pyramid, a fate only reserved for a First
Mage.
"First Mage," the ship's captain bows to the giant blue-
skinned warrior. "Sensors have scanned the city of Tokyo. The
site of our banishing the House With No Name is today referred to
as Juuban district of Minato ward. Sensors indicate that many
interdimensional portals have been torn between Metallia's realm
and Juuban. Sensors indicate lifesigns indicative of the Sailor
Senshi, Princess Serenity and Prince Endimion of Earth."
A bray of laughter escapes the First Mage's lips. "So the
information from the Zephyrites' colony here is correct," Belok
smiles. "Excellent. Deploy the fleet around Juuban, Fleet
Captain. A thousand years ago, First Mage Kytron Shogai made a
stupid mistake by merely banishing the House With No Name from this
universe. Today, the mistake will be corrected. When we are done,
Beryl's minions will be banished from all of existence!"
"By your command, First Mage," the captain bows, then barks
orders.
The fleet assumes siege formation as solar sails are drawn in,
racing like starving hawks for Tokyo...
* * *
"Lonely They Who Guard..."
a crossover tale of the Sailor Senshi and The Senior Year
by Fred Herriot
gorgo@kwangju.net
**** **** ****
edited by E.B. Kushnir
kush1@iaw.on.ca
**** **** ****
based on "Sailor Moon," created by Naoko Takeuchi
and "Urusei Yatsura - The Senior Year" created by
Fred Herriot and Mike Smith
based on "Urusei Yatsura," created by Rumiko Takahashi
**** **** ****
IN THE THIRD PART OF "LONELY THEY WHO GUARD..." as Ataru and Lum
learn the true story of the Dark Kingdom and the Silver Millennium,
the Sailor Senshi, despite protests from Luna, unanimously vote in
Naru as their newest member, Sailor Terra. With help from Ataru's
friend Nicole McTavish, the Senshi's powers are upgraded to
overcome the youma's new shielding power. Taking cues from the
*saikoo jinseijitsu,* Nicole devises a new henshin stick for Naru.
It is just in time; youma attack Juuban. On her first mission as
Sailor Terra, Naru cleans house, saving her friends.
**** **** ****
Finally embracing the light...ON WITH THE SHOW!!!!
**** **** ****
CHAPTER FOUR - THE PATH TAKEN
"How is this possible?!!" Jeddite angrily demands. "Who is
this Sailor Terra?!! There never was a Sailor Senshi assigned for
Earth!!!"
"Our observations have led us to suspect that it is Neflyte's
paramour Naru Oosaka who has joined the Senshi, General," Shiki
repentantly bows. "With that knowledge, we may get a clue as to
who the other Senshi are."
"We have just lost another dozen warriors!!" Jeddite snarls,
impaling Shiki with an icy stare. "Our energy level is decreasing
rapidly! We cannot afford another costly failure like this!!"
"I recommend further reconnaissance before committing to an
attack, General," Shiki intones. "Or perhaps, a change of tactics
may be called for."
Jeddite nods. "Continue."
"My lord, Ataru Moroboshi's alien paramour, Lum, has many
friends and relatives in Tomobiki. True, Moroboshi no longer cares
for them, but Lum does. If we coerce them, we can force her to
betray him!"
"Impossible!" Jeddite shakes his head. "Urusians are too
passionate! Lum would rather kill herself than betray her
'Darling!'"
"Agreed, General, but Lum's cousin Jariten lives in Tomobiki.
Surely, kin-by-blood matters more than kin-by-marriage."
Jeddite blinks. A devilish smile spreads across his face.
"An excellent idea, Shiki. Commence the reconnaissance...but no
engagements until we fully understand what we're up against!
Understood?!"
"It shall be done, m'lord," Shiki bows...
* * *
"The next target will be in Tomobiki," Rei grimly muses as she
gazes into the flame at Hikawa Jinja. "Someone very close to Lum.
I'm sure of it!"
The other Senshi, Mamoru, the cats, Ataru and Lum sit behind
her. "Who could that be?" the Oni wonders. "Why would the Dark
Kingdom target one of my friends?!"
"Simple," Haruka sneers. "To betray Ataru."
"I'd rather die than betray Darling!!" the Oni vows.
"Maybe...but what if it's your family that's targeted?" Rei
wonders.
"Family...?" Ataru blinks, then gasps, staring at Lum.
"Jariten!! He's the perfect target!! His flame-breath won't keep
a youma off him for long!!"
"WHAT?!?!?!" Lum bolts to her feet. "If they hurt Ten-chan,
I'll...!!"
"Relax, Lum!" Makoto places a hand on the Oni's shoulder.
"We're your friends, now! Your cousin just got some first-class
bodyguards!!"
Lum blinks, then smiles...
* * *
"Ready to go, Minami-chan?" Ten-chan smiles.
"Ready, Ten-chan!" Minami Michini smiles as she climbs onto
his hover scooter. "Where's Lum-sempai been for the last while?!"
"She's with Ataru helping the Sailor Senshi with those creeps
in Minato ward," the young Oni explains. He was privately annoyed
that Lum wouldn't tell him more, but learning that much excited
him. The battle yesterday marking Sailor Terra's first appearance
had been in all the papers and on the television. "C'mon, let's
get to school!"
"Okay!!" Minami wraps her arms around him as he jets off from
the Moroboshi home.
"Have a nice day, Ten-chan!" Kinshou waves as they leave...
* * *
Down the street from the Moroboshi home, a nightmarish shape
emerges from the shadows, scouring the passing sea of students
trudging toward Tomobiki High School. Eyes locking on a group of
four boys vainly looking for any sign of their icon's return, it
seems to smile, then lashes out...
* * *
"And what brings a pretty girl like you here today?" Mie
smiles.
Makoto howls in shock as she finds herself staring fearfully
at Mie, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. "What are you
doing here?!!" the former demands. "You scared me half to death!!"
"Oh, come on!" Mie smiles. "Any girl with auburn hair in that
ponytail would be recognizable in this burg...even if you weren't
in that little green-and-white number of yours from yesterday!
What's the deal?"
"Will you knock it off?!" Makoto hisses, then glances down the
street. "I'm here watching out for someone!"
"Who?!" Mie looks worried. "Lum-chan?! Ataru-chan?!"
"No, Lum's cousin!" Makoto whispers, then blinks. "Is that
him?!"
Mie looks. Ten-chan and Minami putter down the street on his
scooter, waving at students as they pass by. "Yeah, that's him
alright!" she nods, then blinks. "What the hell are the Four
Tweedledees doing?!"
Makoto looks. Sure enough, Megane and the bodyguards follow
the young Oni. "Hey, aren't those the four jerks who carp over
Lum?" she blinks. "What would they want with that cute tyke?!"
"It's not them!" Mie hisses.
"What?!"
"It's not them!" the Kyushu native glares at the guards. "A
little voice in my head's telling me their bodies are hosting
uninvited guests...and I listen to my little voice!!"
"Is that a fact?!" Makoto icily growls. She couldn't believe
the Dark Kingdom would stoop so low as to attack helpless children.
"Cover me!!"
The Senshi ducks into an alley to change. Mie nods as she
steps out of the alley, walking nonchalantly up to Ten-chan.
"'Morning, Ten-chan, Minami-chan!!" she waves at them. "Nice day,
isn't it?!"
"Oh, hi, Mie-onee-chan!" Ten-chan stops his scooter. "Yeah,
real nice!! Lum-chan's not back from Minato yet!"
"That's okay," Mie beams, then sneers at the guards. "Don't
you four morons have anything better to do?!" she growls.
"You should leave, girl..." Megane icily warns. "Now!"
"Oh, okay," Mie turns away...then spins around to deck the
four men with her briefcase! "Ten-chan, drive off!!! Now!!!"
"What's going on...?!" Ten-chan demands.
Before the Kyushu native, the bodyguards literally melt into
four giant youma, eyes fixed on the microbe standing between them
and their target. "You dare interfere, human?!" the one who was
once Megane snarls. "Die!!!"
"M-m-m-monsters!!!" Minami screams. "Save me, Ten-chan!!!"
Energy blasts lash out, easily avoided as Mie somersaults away
from the transformed guards. "And you're the best the Dark Kingdom
has to offer?!" Mie sneers, taking a ready stance. "Or is coming
to Tomobiki addling what little brains you have in those heads?!"
"Impudent worm!!!" once-Paama howls. "You're pay for your
insolence!!!"
"***LOVE CHAIN ENCIRCLE!!!!!!***" a voice barks out.
The transformed guards scream as they are snared by Sailor
Venus' energy heart chain! Sailor Jupiter then appears beside Mie,
lightning rod at the ready. "***SUPREME THUNDER DRAGON!!!!!!***"
The blast of energy smashes the youma down as Venus prepares
to finish them off. "Hold it, Venus!!" Mie runs up, waving at
Venus to stop. "Let me mind-scan them before you pulverize them!!"
"She's a telepath?!" Jupiter blinks.
"Oh, yeah!" Ten-chan nods. "Real good one, too!"
Mie leans up, her fingers jabbing into the skin of the youma-
Megane. The creature howls as the amnesiac Sagussan rips away his
mental defenses, extracting loads of information. "Okay!!" she
backs away, then stares at the Senshi. "They're being led by some
creep named Jeddite! Familiar with him?!"
"Moon, Mars and Mercury fought him sometime before I joined
the team," Jupiter blinks surprisedly. "I thought he was dead!"
"So did I!" Venus muses.
Suddenly, pained moans escape the dazed youma. "Uh-oh!" Mie
steps back. "You better do something about these jerks!"
"Right!!" Venus winds up. "***LOVE AND BEAUTY SHOCK!!!!!!***"
A big explosion later, the bodyguards, restored to normal,
look around confusedly. "What happened...?!" Megane blinks, then
he sees Ten-chan. "Jariten!!! Where is Lum-san?!!" he bolts to
his feet, grabbing the young Oni by his jumper. "What has that
scoundrel Ataru done to her this time...?!!"
Thunder is heard. "***SUPREME THUNDER DRAGON!!!!!!***"
Jupiter bellows.
Everyone ducks as the guards are fried by a lightning blast
far worse than anything Lum ever gave them!! "Why did you do that,
Jupiter?!!" Venus demands. "They were already cleansed of youma!!"
"Oh, sorry!" Jupiter embarrassingly giggles. "I thought with
the way he was talking, he was still possessed!!"
Everyone laughs save the four fried idiots in question.
Suddenly, Ten-chan appears before Jupiter, rose out. "Marry me!!"
"Oh, no you don't!" Mie grabs Jupiter away from Ten-chan.
"This one's mine, Ten!! Go after her!" she points at Venus.
Ten-chan immediately zips over to Sailor Venus, who is
wondering what she ever did to deserve this. Jupiter tries vainly
to deter Mie. Laughter echoes from the crowd around them, which is
then punctuated by the sound of many starships entering atmosphere.
"What the...?!" Venus looks up, then gasps. "Holy!!!"
Everyone stares in the direction which has attracted Venus'
attention. The sky over Tokyo is now a sea of flying clipper
ships! "Wait a sec'..." Jupiter blinks as memories from a previous
life a millennia before come back to her. "Those ships look
familiar!"
"If I'm not mistaken, those are Seifukusu Dominion
battleships!!" Mie blinks surprisedly. "What are they doing
here?!"
Echoing her words, Jupiter's and Venus' communicators beep.
"Everyone, return to Juuban, stat!!" Sailor Mercury signals.
"Aliens landing in Juuban Park! We need you!!"
"On our way!" Jupiter nods.
"Here, climb aboard!!" Ten-chan guides the scooter around for
the Senshi to board. "I can get you there faster than running!"
"Thanks, Ten-chan!" Jupiter nods as she and Venus hop on.
"I'll get Minami-chan to school," Mie helps Minami off the
scooter, then smiles at Jupiter. <> she
telepathically warns.
<> Jupiter smiles as they take off...
* * *
Juuban Park is now surrounded by a large crowd as the other
Senshi, Tuxedo Kamen, Ataru and Lum wind their way through the mob.
"Excuse us, please!" Sailor Moon calls out as the crowds part for
them, many cheering the Senshi on. "Thank you!!"
"Who are these people?!" Tuxedo Kamen blinks, staring
confusedly at the wild mix of alien soldiers erecting what appears
to be a transmitter tower in the middle of the park. "They look
familiar!"
"They should," Lum sighs. "They're the relatives of your
friends in the Dark Kingdom...the Seifukusu Dominion!"
"This is what you two learned, right?!" Mercury blinks.
"Right," Ataru nods. "A millennium ago, Queen Beryl was the
Mage of the so-called 'House With No Name.' They were stripped of
all their possessions right down to their House name, then banished
into another dimension by the other Houses in punishment over her
people destroying the Silver Millennium. My friend Brother Sunfire
must have passed on the news to the Magate Round."
"Which means they're here to settle scores with whoever's in
charge of the Dark Kingdom these days," Lum shudders.
"I remember the Dominion," Pluto tenses. "The Millennium's
destruction hurt them both economically and spiritually; in fact
they're still recovering from the civil war that followed the
Millennium's destruction."
Finally, the Senshi emerge from the crowd. A policeman moves
to stop them, then on recognizing them, salutes. "Good luck,
ladies!"
Sailor Moon smiles as she heads onto the grass, eyes locked on
the tower the Dominion soldiers are building. "What could that
thing be?" she wonders.
Lum gazes at it. "It's a dimensional transmitter!" she
exclaims. "It's like my temporal spacializer, except this one
works across dimensional barriers instead of backwards and forwards
in time."
"Why, do you suppose?" Mercury blinks.
At that moment, Ten-chan drives up with Jupiter and Venus.
"Hi, Lum-chan! Hi, Ataru!" the young Oni smiles.
"Hey, guys!!" Jupiter hops off the scooter. "You're not going
to believe who's in charge of the Dark Kingdom now!"
At Moon's prompting, Jupiter explains what Mie discovered.
"Jeddite?!!" Mars blinks surprisedly. "I thought we were finished
with him after that fight at Narita Airport!!"
"He disappeared after that fight; Neflyte seemed to be in
charge of things afterward," Mercury hums, then looks
apologetically at Terra. "Sorry about that, Sailor Terra."
"It's okay," Terra gently squeezes Luna and Artemis, eliciting
delighted purrs from the two cats. "Let's get this over with!"
As the Senshi approach, several Kibajoomuu guards spot their
presence and bark a warning. The Seifukusu in charge of erecting
the transmitter turn, and upon seeing Sailor Moon, emit a
collective gasp of disbelief. "What now, Luna?" the Senshi's
leader stops, staring at the aliens around them.
"Let them acknowledge you, Sailor Moon," Luna hisses. "If
they do not do so on their terms, we cannot use them as allies
against Jeddite!"
At that moment, the largest, most muscular man Sailor Moon had
ever seen steps out of the crowd. Dressed in fine capes and a
richly decorated costume, his turquoise skin scarred by many
battles, he could easily stare Captain Invader in the eye. Sensing
his intended target, Tuxedo Kamen inserts himself between his
girlfriend and the giant. Watching this, the alien leader
chuckles. "Be at peace, Endimion, if that is who you are!" he
raises his hand in greeting, then stares at Sailor Moon. "Do I
address the reborn daughter of the last Queen of the Silver
Millennium?"
Moon steps around Tuxedo Kamen, then respectfully bows,
training from ages ago guiding her. "In this life, I am called
Sailor Moon. The person I once was died a millennium ago."
"Well said, Sailor Moon," Belok smiles. "I am Belok Redet,
First Mage of the Imperial Houses of the Seifukusu Dominion. We
have business that must be settled this day. Do you and your
allies stand with us or against us?"
Moon rises. "We stand with you against the Dark Kingdom."
"As long as those native to Earth are not harmed," Terra adds.
"Or other planets," Ataru crosses his arms.
Belok's eyes fall on the Terran tag champion. "Ah, the one
who saved my daughter Paishu from a dishonour," he chuckles. "A
pleasure to meet you at last, Ataru Moroboshi. I trust I may meet
the creator of my daughter's husband sometime soon?"
"When this is over, I'll invite Nicole to come by," Ataru
smiles.
The First Mage nods, then stares at his adjutant. "How
long?!"
"It is done, First Mage," he bows.
"Excellent!!" Belok growls. "The House With No Name has hid
from real justice for too long! Begin!!"
"Hai!!" the adjutant bows, then barks orders.
Power generators come on line. A strange white glow builds in
the giant telescope-like transmitter dish. Everyone blinks as the
luminesence builds to an unbearable radiance. Overhead, the
surrounding capital ships of the Magate Round Fleet form a firing
circle, projecting beams of energy from their bow sensor arrays.
They intersect right above the transmitter, forming an energy ball.
Seeing that through shaded glasses, the adjutant barks, "Enable!!!"
The transmitter fires!
* * *
In the throne room, Jeddite is in a mood. "They were
ambushed?!" he angrily glares at the cowering Shiki.
"Yes, sir," the chief assistant whimpers. "Somehow, the
Senshi learned of our plans and destroyed our agents before they
could kidnap Lum's cousin!"
The general seethes. This was becoming embarrassingly
repetitive. Now he understood how Beryl felt after each failure to
destroy the Senshi. "Get up, Shiki!" he returns to the throne.
"Perhaps it is time to restrict all operations until we have
acquired enough energy to challenge the Sailor Senshi on a more
even footing..."
Suddenly, the whole court violently quakes. Screams echo
through the room as the floor heaves, throwing everyone off their
feet. "We're under attack!!!" someone cries out.
"Impossible!!" Jeddite exclaims, for the first time sensing
that he is not totally in control of his surroundings. "We cannot
be attacked here...!"
The floor then collapses, revealing not the darkness of the
planetoid which had served as the Dark Kingdom's home base for a
millennium...but blue skies and the cityscape of Tokyo, not to
mention a sea of Dominion warships waiting expectantly for them!!
"NO!!!!!!" Jeddite howls as he drops into freefall...
* * *
"Sir, it's worked!!" the adjutant points up. "You see, sir?!"
Belok looks up. Kilometres over Minato, a giant tear in the
very fabric of space-time has been ripped open. Beyond the gate,
in the realm once inhabited only by Metallia, the planetoid of the
House With No Name shatters, the pieces tumbling through the warp.
Accompanying them, as noted by Ataru through his Cyborg-enhanced
sight, were the pitiful few survivors of Beryl's banished House.
"Watch that first step," he wryly warns. "It's a doozy!!"
"Orders, First Mage?" the adjutant faces Belok.
"Extend the tractor net between the ships-of-the-line," the
Seifukusu leader orders. "We'll capture whatever's left, then deal
with them once and for all!" He turns to Sailor Moon. "Would you
care to join us?!"
"Certainly!" the Senshi's leader readily nods.
* * *
Overhead, as the energies of the dimensional transporter fade,
the gate to Metallia's realm closed for the final time to Jeddite's
people, a very resilient energy trampoline appears. Minutes after
the destruction of the royal chambers, the denizens of the Dark
Kingdom land on the trampoline extended by their distant cousins.
Looking around, Shiki pales as he counts the number of ships
surrounding them. "Warriors, quick!!!" he frantically barks.
"Form a security cordon around the others!!! They'll be on us
immediately!!!"
Still defiant, the few remaining warriors form a line of
defence as a gutteral, vengeance-crazed roar echoes from around
them. Shiki's eyes widen on seeing thousands of Dominion troops,
yelling the name of their Mage or House, racing toward them, their
intent all too clear. Also diving at them from above were the
demons who haunted the dreams of the Dark Kingdom since its
inception. "The Sailor Senshi!!!" he cries, pointing up.
The warriors bellow as the Senshi and their allies plunge from
Belok's personal hover-carrier, weapons out and ready. "For love
and justice!" Sailor Moon calls out. "In the name of the Moon, let
this war end today!!"
"Didn't you say something about them NOT making speeches,
Darling?" Lum stares at Ataru.
"**I thought I did,**" the machine-man shrugs as he bounces
off the trampoline, bowling over a platoon of youma as he wades
into the fray.
Because the trampoline is so vast...about nine square
kilometres...it is impossible for everyone to discern who was what.
Ataru's sensors and Sailor Mercury's visor select the most powerful
youma, thus allowing the other Senshi to concentrate on them.
"Hey!!" Sailor Mars looks around after she dispatched one with her
flame sniper. "Where's Jeddite?!"
"I don't see him anywhere!" Tuxedo Kamen disables another with
a rose.
"There!!" Pluto points up.
Far above their heads, a minuscule lone figure floats,
seemingly detached from the apocalypse that his fellow denizens
were facing. "Ataru!!" Sailor Terra jogs up to him. "Give me a
boost! I'll get him!!"
"**Watch yourself, Naru-chan!**" Ataru allows the newest
Senshi to step on his palm, then using a Fastball Special, sends
her racing at the general.
As Sailor Terra flies off, Sailors Jupiter, Uranus and Saturn
smash their way through another troop. "Hey, look!!" Jupiter
points at the large crowd in the centre of the trampoline.
"What're they doing all alone?!"
"Let's find out!" Uranus draws her sword and leads the charge.
* * *
Overhead, Jeddite remains in place, struggling to reopen the
portal into Metallia's realm. "Curse the Dominion for what they've
done!!" he snarls. "If I can't get back into the Dark Kingdom,
we're all lost!"
"Brilliant deduction, Jeddite!!!" an angry voice snarls from
behind.
The general screams surprisedly as Sailor Terra slams into
him, sending him tumbling to the waiting trampoline. Her own
forward motion stopped, the Senshi finds herself following him.
"Uh-oh!!" she gulps, then calls out, "***AIR-WHIRLPOOL COOL
LEVITATION!!!!!!***"
A mini-cyclone snares Terra, enabling her to control her
descent so she could land safely on the trampoline. Jeddite is not
so lucky; he careens into the energy pad at terminal velocity, then
bounces several hundred metres back into the air. Terra quickly
moves to intercept him.
Recovering his wits despite the bouncing, Jeddite flips to see
Terra racing up to him. Laughing, the general draws an energy
blade and aims it at the Senshi, a perfect kill. "Die!!!"
Terra somersaults back as Jeddite hits the energy trampoline,
the sword slicing through it and out of his hands! Regaining her
footing, Terra charges, dropping the general with a side kick to
the cheek. "That was for my mother, you slime!!!" Terra growls as
she spins around, following up with a back kick to his solar
plexis. "And this is for me!!! ***SOULSWORD!!!!!!***"
Jeddite staggers as Terra cups her hands, her own energy blade
appearing from thin air. Before he could see it coming, the blade
lances through his side and up, magically chopping his brain in
half!! A gurgling scream escapes his lips as Jeddite collapses,
his spirit forever ripped from its shell. And with that, the last
general of the Dark Kingdom disintegrates.
Terra pants, then dissipates the soulsword. "Now, it's over!"
* * *
Meanwhile, Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus race at the largest
group of denizens, huddling together instead of reinforcing their
friends, now being terminated by the other Senshi and the Dominion
troops. "I don't like this!" Jupiter warns.
"Neither do I," Uranus hefts her sword.
As soon as the crowd before them see the Senshi coming, many
grab for knives and spears, moving to protect far smaller denizens.
As details become more clear, the three Senshi find themselves
slowing down, maternal instincts overcoming the cold logic which
had ruled their previous engagements with the forces of the Dark
Kingdom.
"There're...children!" Saturn gapes, almost dropping the
Silence Glaive.
Motion stops as the Senshi stare at the young children hiding
fearfully behind their parents' legs, staring at the three alien
women as if THEY were demons. Silence falls until one male denizen
painfully demands, "Aren't you going to finish us, butchers?!"
Jupiter feels her strength go. "I...we...we didn't know...!
Oh, gods, we didn't know...!!"
"It's alright, Makoto," Uranus' hand steadies her.
By then, Moon, Mercury and Tuxedo Kamen have arrived. "Hey,
what're you guys waiting...for?!" Moon demands, her voice rising to
a surprised shriek on seeing what else emerged from the Dark
Kingdom. "Kids...?!"
"It seems...that not all of the Dark Kingdom were soldiers,"
Tuxedo Kamen blinks, unable to associate the famished scene before
him to the dark monsters the Senshi fought years before.
Lowering her visor, Mercury scans the group. "Many of them
are malnourished. Their energy levels are almost zero; it's a
miracle they're still alive. Still...it appears that their
separation from Metallia's realm has begun to make changes in their
metabolism."
"How so?" Saturn wonders.
"Metallia's realm was really not the place for them to live,"
Mercury sighs. "Once in that dimension, to survive, they became
psionically attached to Metallia. They were instilled with her
dependency on life-energy to remain alive. It's an addiction,
Hotaru; once they had a taste of what Metallia considered 'normal,'
they came to believe it was normal for them. And that craving did
more damage to their bodies and psyches than anything we or the
Dominion could ever have done."
"Very slow death thanks to an addiction to bio-energy...atop
an inbred revulsion to energy depravation," Tuxedo Kamen scowls.
"Nasty!"
"Agreed," Mercury grimly nods. "However, given their present
physical deterioration, many will die before their bodies can
adjust to being out of Metallia's influence."
An oppressive silence falls. "No," Sailor Moon sighs,
determination flashing in her eyes. "They won't die! I won't let
them die!!"
"It's what you've always wanted, witch!" a female denizen
vainly snarls, holding her child. "It's what you've always wanted
from the beginning!"
"No, it's what Beryl wanted you to believe!" Moon draws her
sceptre. "You're right; I am a killer! I kill in the name of my
people, on Earth! I hate what Beryl and her goons made me do, most
of all to myself!! But the Silver Millennium no longer exists!!
Neither does the Dark Kingdom! Serenity is dead! So's Beryl!!
But that doesn't mean you and your children have to suffer for your
queen's actions!"
The other Senshi exchange knowing looks, then gather around
their leader. Sensing what is happening, Venus, Neptune, Pluto and
Terra race up to join in. Around them, the Dominion soldiers cease
fire, their attention taken by the drama in the middle of the
trampoline.
The hands of her friends fall on Sailor Moon's arms as the
sceptre glows, awaiting its mistress' command. "When this is done,
I will ask the First Mage to transport you to a planet where you
can live in peace!" she announces. "It is the only thing the
Dominion owes the Silver Millennium. Once that is done, the past
will be laid to rest once and for all! Ready?!"
"Ready!" the other Senshi nod.
Sailor Moon aims the sceptre at the quaking denizens. The
others chant their transformation phrases, their energies pouring
through their leader into the sceptre. Finally, Sailor Moon
smiles, chanting the special phrase a new friend gave her for this
occasion.
"***MOON...COSMIC...HEALING...ACTIVATION!!!!!!***"
* * *
Two days later.
Usagi strolls along to the shopping complex with Naru at her
side. It is a beautiful day, the weather warming despite the
approach of Christmas. With classes out, both wanted to get some
shopping done before the stores closed. Around them, people milled
about. Usagi smiles. A normal day, perhaps the first truly normal
day they had in four years.
"What's normal?" Naru smiles.
Usagi laughs as the two head into the mall. Were her thoughts
THAT easy to read? "This is normal," she finally sighs, basking in
the cheer filling the people around them. "For how long, who
knows! Let's enjoy it!!"
A voice then calls out, "You ladies going my way?"
Both stop, seeing Ataru staring at them from a ramen stand.
"Hi, Ataru!" Naru smiles as they join their friend. "What're you
doing here?"
"Well, I just learned that the survivors of the Dark Kingdom
have been turned over to the Tenwan House," he sighs. "They have
a spare planet, in a really out of the way place, near Zephyrite
space. They should cause no problem from now on. Also, I have a
message from my friend Brother Sunfire."
"What does he want?" Usagi blinks.
"He states that his home monastery on Jiyuu have records
dating from the time of the Silver Millennium. They're mostly
observations from Dominion traders when Jiyuu was a Seifukusu
colony," Ataru announces. "The abbot there would be more than
happy to present you with those records if you want them."
Usagi blinks, then shakes her head. "No, I've no need of
them."
"You sure?"
She nods. "I'm not the Princess of the Silver Millennium, not
in this life," Usagi gazes at the ceiling. "Two days ago, I
finally put that war to rest. I don't want to think about youma or
Beryl or the Dark Kingdom for a very, very, very, VERY looooooooong
time to come!"
"It's for the best," Naru pats her friend's shoulder. "You
can't live your life with your thoughts tied to the past, Usagi-
chan. If you do, you'll never know any peace."
"Amen to that," Usagi nods, then smiles contently at Ataru.
"Thank Brother Sunfire for me, Ataru, but tell him I don't need
that stuff. Save it for the historians."
"I will," Ataru pays for his ramen. "In the meantime, I've my
own life to worry about now. You folks take care of yourselves.
But if you need any help, give me a shout."
"Will do," Usagi nods as Ataru moves to leave.
"Wait!" Naru stands.
"What?!" Ataru stares at her.
She walks up, kissing him on his cheek. "Thanks...for helping
me realize my dream," Naru sighs.
"As always, my dear Naru, it is a pleasure to aid a pretty
damsel in distress," Ataru nasally responds, bowing gracefully.
"After all, I haven't changed THAT much!"
Laughing, the three part to return to their lives. Watching
them from above, Chibi-Usa and Sailor Pluto could only smile.
"Now, Mom will be happy," the young Senshi from the future sighs.
"Yes," the time guardian nods. "Now, she'll be happy..."
* * *
Eight months later...
A party at the Aino residence. With Usagi and the inner
Senshi having finally graduated high school, the team has gathered
together for one final celebration before carrying on with their
post-secondary education. Along with Mamoru, many of their allies
from past adventures who could have been contacted are present.
Conversation remains brisk as people catch up with each other's
lives. "Great party, Minako!" Kooan calls out from the kitchen.
"Thanks, Kooan-chan!" Minako sighs, then looks at the
invitation list.
"Did everyone show up?" Usagi gobbles down some of Chibi-Usa's
homemade cookies, watching her future child flirt with her friend
Perele, Diana perched on the young woman's head.
"Lessee here...everyone should be here...wait!" Minako blinks.
"Ataru and Lum aren't here!"
"Didn't you hear the news?!" Makoto walks up.
"What news?!" Usagi and Minako inquire together.
"Guess not!" Makoto laughs. "Anyhow, it turns out that
Ataru's dreams of a harem weren't so farfetched after all! Earth's
just signed a treaty with a planet named Sagussa!! Ataru's that
planet's new head-of-state! It's been all over the news!"
"No way!!" Minako gapes.
"Did you hear about Ataru?" Ami walks up.
"We heard!" Usagi sighs. "So, he was a hentai after all,
eh?!"
The others sigh resignedly...just as the doorbell rings. "I
got it!" Makoto calls out, racing to the door. "Yes...eh?!" she
feels her face pale.
"Hi, Makoto-san," Mie smiles, entering, Ten-chan beside her.
"Ataru-chan sent us in his place; he couldn't make it to the party!
Too many things occupying his time on Sagussa! Can we come in?!"
"S-s-sure!" Makoto waves them inside, then notices Mie's
uniform. "What are you doing wearing that?!"
"I guess you were wondering why I was thinking such risque
thoughts around you when we met," Mie smiles, staring at her duty
jumpsuit.
"Well, if you're a lesbian, that's okay; Haruka and Michiru
have a relationship," Makoto nods to the couple in question.
"Actually, I'm bi...and also from Sagussa," Mie admits.
"It's true!" Ten-chan nods.
"No way!!" Makoto blinks surprisedly. "I'd love to hear this
story!"
"You'll have it," the once-amnesiac Sagussan pilot smiles,
then looks outside. "Oh, by the way, I should introduce you to my
life-mate," she indicates her companion. "Makoto Kino...meet
Makoto Seikou!"
Makoto's jaw hits the floor on seeing a suntanned version of
HERSELF with a heart-and-thunderbolt tattoo on her right cheek,
adorned in her First Sagussan Fleet watchmistress' uniform.
"Hello, spirit-sister!" Mie's bond-mate smiles, bowing to her
namesake, then looks around. "Oh, a party! I haven't been to one
since Ataru graduated!!"
The Seikous head inside. "And I thought being a Senshi was
weird!" Makoto stammers as she returns to the party...
*** The End ***